Enter the huge Blings Cycle shop and among all projects going on, a common thread between almost all of them: performance. Doesn’t matter the style discussed and approved by the client, all Master Builder Bill Dodge’s bikes brings a bit of fresh air into a custom world often looking pretty but not necessarily very attractive for acceleration, handling and speed when confronted with the road or the highway… Bill is deeply a hardcore performance guy who likes smooth rides and giant miles to go from one rally to the other. And most of his creations show it.

He is a strong defender of simplicity and the enemy of the “more chrome the better” philosophy that has polluted the custom building industry during too many years. He knows exactly what can and what should be done to any stock or badly customized motorcycle to turn it into a very desirable machine, resurrecting the true meaning of “motorcycling” in anything he touches.

Client Johny Brooks from Colorado is also into performance, racing all types of sport cars across the USA like the Porsche GT3R in the IMSA series, the Dodge Viper in the Pirelli World series and even bikes in the Colorado 500. He wanted first to buy one of Bling Cycle’s bikes sitting on the floor. Having a much better idea to provide what his client was looking for (performance), Bill opposed. As some of you can see from the pictures, the donor bike was a Harley Super Glide. Precisely a 2004 model year which was initially offered by the factory in a large variety of trim levels to fill the intermediate niche between the smallest and largest Harley models. A Dyna chassis debuted in limited production in 1991 with the legendary FXDB Sturgis model, then evolved with a better braking and suspension. To this day, it remains one of the favorite of all asphalt addicts who want to enjoy the smooth engine rubber mounted system.

Pointed in the right direction, Johny Brooks was easily convinced that Bill Dodge would create the powerful and reliable large displacement motorcycle he was craving for. High horsepower equals also an other well known name in the industry: Kendall Johnson whose equipment – Sunnen Head Machine, flow bench, 150 Dynojet dyno with Loadbrake – is unequaled when it’s time to build a high performance package. So, while Bill was imagining a new Dyna Super Glide chassis, Kendall created a bad to the bone 117” stroker tested at a 145 lb.-ft. torque, 147 lb.-ft. at the rear wheel…

Tear down, full reassembly and testing of the engine being completed, Bill Dodge began to wrap it into a no-nonsense, stripped down, hardcore bodywork. And as always, it includes his mastery at bending steel and aluminum and of course at integrating his own proprietary parts to create an eye-popping custom style which can be qualified at the Blings’ Performance Style. Of course, Bill Dodge kept the wonderfully smooth 2-point rubber-mounted Harley frame but added some Sport into it by slightly reducing the factory 28-degree rake. Then, he installed a GSXR front end bolted to his own triple trees with Blings risers and handlebars, a pair of Ohlins Piggyback adjustable shocks, his own R-9 wheels (21 x 3.25” front, 18 x 5.5” rear) and own discs, with these wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires and fitted for maximum stopping power with rgold powder-coated Brembo monoblock calipers,

The new modified Dyna Street-Pro aluminum swingarm was sourced at Brock’s Performance. All bodywork was formed by Bill Dodge’s hands. It includes a hot-rod style rear fender in which the Blings’ taillight was inserted and also a very discreet and smooth basic instruments dash. Fortunately, he avoided the speed screen affixed to too many Dynas. For signature, a stainless steel Blings exhaust system appropriately called the 1-2 Punch to underscore what the “Super Sleeper” is all about. Except front end, gas and oil tanks, most of the other parts are hand sanded to add to the hardcore look of Blings Cycle, a Bill Dodge trademark. (photos @ Horst Roesler for Cyril Huze)

Thank you Cyril. As the owner of this bike, I can tell you that this is a very well balanced motorcycle. It’s truly a performance based bike, with nothing extra. It’s fast, handles and stops extremely well and is a blast to ride. Bling’s Cycles in Daytona Beach, Florida builds bikes with a lot of passion and soul. If you want to rip around the country, do wheelies, burnouts and ride it like you stole it, hit up Bill Dodge and let the fun begin!!